Medically Assisted Dying When medical assistance in dying – MAID (also referred to as Medically Assisted Dying – MAD and Physician Assisted Dying – PAD ) was just a twinkle in eye in most of North America, I began my layman’s journey into learning all things end of life – encompassing much more than ‘help me die’. Now, with medical assistance in dying taking center stage, I’ve made it my business to attend every Town Hall, Presentation and Info session. While the ‘license to kill’ crowd takes every opportunity to insist it’s suicide and murder, little time and attention is paid to two important outcomes: When MAID is refused Benefits of the process requesting MAID Taking a leaf from the ‘suicide and murder’ crowd, consider what happens when the MAID request is refused: You are condemning someone to a prison of suffering. A lifetime sentence with no parole. For some, it’s akin to sanctioning their torture. Of those who say, with a sneer in their voice: “oh you can off yourself anytime you want, it’s the ‘medically assisted’ we object to” Consider the aforementioned – imprisoned by their own disease whose very condition prevents them from taking matters into their own hands. Suicide: an act of desperation. MAID: an act of contemplation …with benefits. And therein lies an unexpected benefit of applying for MAID. In the poignant podcast series, ‘Better off Dead’ Andrew Denton takes personal umbrage when he hears a 24 year old applied for MAID. “I think of the years ahead of her – a mother, a wife, a career woman.” To this well-meaning sentiment, my rejoinder...